Took a risk and bought one of the kenny prototype lamps.

[Autumn]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170512728802...

I decided to go ahead and buy this lamp. To me it looks like an earlier prototype to the known prototypes that people have. When I get this lamp how can I tell if its the real deal or or if I got scammed? I know I took a big risk so I dont want hear about that, I just want to know how to tell if its the real deal.

What I can already tell is that the opening at the top is only barely large enough to fit a globe and the other prototypes have a rim added to the base so it sits properly.

[Autumn]

Well I hope usps dont kill me dead kenny! When you say non prototype do you mean this auction?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170511496577...

As for being bongs originally I guess that would explain why the opening for a globe on mine is 2 3/4". That is barely big enough to sit a globe in it and it would not be very stable.

I am wondering if adding the electrical pieces to the base would lower its value because I would have to drill a hole in the bottom of the base.

[mandysbus]

i just looked at my bones lamp and after 15 years it dawned on me i had seen this before....maybe thru the blue hazyness and fog...i had seen this before...my freind had a skull bong that the pipe part came out the mouth....
bones is almost an exact match for the skull he had.........just toookj a few years to realize this......
maybe they did this with the other lamps....or maybe i should stop smoking.....phil

[LampHead]

It is true that our beloved Icon lava lamps were once made for other purposes...

LampHead

[Autumn]

So does anyone know where you can buy these bongs? Maybe we can take some bongs and make them into lava lamp bases.

[Autumn]

Is the opening big enough for a lava globe at the top?

[Autumn]

It looks like if you just got a metal cone from an icon lamp you would be good to go. Does anyone have a couple cones from a shattered icon they would be willing to donate/sell?

[Autumn]

Got my kenny today.

[Autumn]

A couple things I noticed about the kenny base. It barely holds a 32oz globe. Even a 20oz globe wont sit in it. I think if I had an icon metal cone I could make it work but it would stick out the top of the lamp so whats the point. So I think I will just leave it as it is and not try to make it a functioning lamp. I am hoping it is worth more than I paid for it and several years from now I hope its value increases.

Has anyone else seen this version of the prototype before?

[Autumn]

Well I came up with an idea. I cut a midnight base in half and now I just need to figure out how to do the electrical.

A little orange paint and it will look pretty good.

[Autumn]

There is no way I would chop up an elektrick base. I will just paint this one orange!

[LampHead]

Just to let you guys know Ikea sells a lamp fixture that may work fine, when I was having my customs made I told the lady to make 3.5 inch holes. My snowman has the top half of a regular lava world base, my pumpkin has a entire lava lamp base inside and my 8 ball, skull and Easter egg have the lamps I bought from Ikea. The Ikea lamps were in a big bin and had 2 different types of bases, one was a clip on and the other was a table top base but I just bought the lamp tops, they come prewired with a on-off switch too. I want to say they were only $ 7.

LampHead

[Autumn]

I asked about the origins of the lamp I bought and this is the response I got.
"The Kenny has an interesting background. In 1995 I was the GM for ICON Ceramics which was the largest manufacturer of ceramic bong bases in the world. In 1996 we got a contract to produce 10,000 lava lamp bases for world. In 1996 we got a contract to produce 10,000 lava lamp bases for Haggerty enterprises. We retooled our molds to produce our pieces in a way that would accomodate the lava lamps. There were jesters and clowns and a few other pieces. In 1997 Haggerty gave us the contract to produce Southpark characters. The one you have is a prototype that never went to Haggerty. Scott Johnson was the artist that sculpted all of ICONS pieces. He is the son of the late Snellen Johnson who was a famous bronze artist here in the southwest. There were only about 6 or 7 of the one that you have that were even poured (with the stitches and bullet holes). I called the guys that I worked with at the time and we think that yours is the only one left. I haven't talked to Scott but if there is another one left he would have it. I've asked the other guys I worked with if they have any more of the bases or the molds and I'm waiting to hear back from them. If I come across any more bases I will let you know. Thanks for the feedback and have a great day. "

I asked him to come here and tell us about his job so hopefully he takes me up on the offer.